Drivers advised: Bring chalk, take pictures

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) plans to strictly implement an ordinance requiring motorists to bring chalk so they can mark the area should they figure in an accident.

Moreover, they are also encouraged to help document the accident by taking photos using their camera phones.

This way, the vehicles can be removed from the road even before the enforcers come, thereby preventing traffic build-up that often happens in accident sites.

“With the advent of camera phones, motorists can take a photo of the site and even submit it to us. With this, the vehicle can be removed so that normal traffic flow will not be affected. They can do this even before the enforcers arrive,” said CITOM Executive Director Rafael Yap.

As to the chalk, Yap said enforcers could not respond immediately, especially during rush hours and if the accident happens far from the CITOM office, it is best if the involved vehicles are moved out of the way as soon as possible to minimize traffic congestion.

City Ordinance 1946 sets a fine of P1,000 for failure to bring a chalk.  Section 14 of the ordinance allows drivers “to mark on the road the exact position of vehicles when an accident occurs.” 

Also, Yap said they have already identified areas where pocket lanes dedicated for jeepney stops are “doable in six months”.

The locations, he said, are mostly in government lots setting up the pocket lanes would be easy. A pocket lane is separate from the main road where jeepneys can unload and load passengers.

It is similar to that in front of Gaisano Country Mall, which gave up a portion of its parking lot so the loading and unloading bays could be built outside the road. With this, traffic flow is not disrupted or blocked by public utility jeepneys stopping to pick up passengers.

CITOM also plans to hold seminars to City Hall department heads, media practitioners, and Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office workers to deputize them.

Yap said that if they attend the seminars and pass the written exams, they could already issue citation tickets to violators.

Meanwhile, the CITOM Board has deferred the request of drivers and operators to allow Mandaue jeepneys to enter downtown Cebu City in the evening.

Yap said this is because the board would base its decision on the City traffic master plan, which is still in the works. (FREEMAN)